Congress leader in cash mess

Senior Congress leader and former minister Naseem Khan found himself embroiled in a controversy, after a video of him being showered in notes during a religious festival went viral on social media.

The video was shot when Khan had visited a bhajan event organised by the Bhanushali community at Chandivli in Andheri suburbs of Mumbai.

Khan himself has confirmed the incident, however, the BJP has taken strong exception to the incident.
Khan is a five-time MLA from Mumbai and was a minister in the erstwhile Congress-NCP Democratic Front government having held portfolios like textiles and minority affairs.

"When I went there (for the event organised by Himalaya Mitra Mandal), they showered currency notes...every community has different traditions, how could I object," Khan said, adding that this was done for all guests.

"Even some local leaders of the community who are from the BJP and the MNS did the same," he said.

"It is a political conspiracy," he said, adding that the video surfaced hours after he wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue of rising prices of petrol and diesel.

"This shows the Congress culture," Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said.

BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari demanded a probe to find out "how much cash flowed". The development comes a day after Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam met Fadnavis and demanded reservation for certain sections of North Indian community.